Tips for furnishing an apartment

Configuration
1

Hello!

So here it is, I was on Glady a few years ago and then I put it aside without finishing. Today I see that there are a lot of new features, I am going to move and I would like to equip an apartment with Gladys. It is under construction so integration of certain modules/built-in switches is possible.

Here is exactly what I would like:

Control of all lights via phone, switch or voice command (thanks to Google) with status feedback. If I turn on the light via my phone I would like to be able to turn it off via the switch and vice versa. Which was not possible before. This implies « connected » switches I think.

Control of certain built-in outlets.

Temperature control with a « connected » thermostatic valve. Control by room.

Humidity value.

Outdoor temperature.

Camera and door sensor.

I think that’s already quite a bit, don’t hesitate to advise me on other useful things.
There are all the answers in the forum, yes, but there are so many different things/brands… I want something stable and reliable. The price comes after. Which bridge should I use? Which brand? Which technology?

And finally, what should I install Gladys on? I know it is made for Raspberry but is there something more reliable? Thanks
(Ps: DIY doesn’t scare me the goal is to have something finished, stable, and functional. I don’t want any more Arduino cards with 15 cables :smile:

Thanks to those who take the time to read and answer :slight_smile:

(Ps I will introduce myself in the appropriate session)

2

Hello,

Welcome to the Gladys community :slight_smile:
I like your vision of things, which is a bit similar to mine: controlling everything from Gladys OK, but always keeping a functional home even if Gladys or the Raspberry Pi is not working!

You can check what I wrote here: Interrupteurs connectés - #6 par lmilcent
It’s my personal feedback on the two switches I tested at home.

Several solutions:

  1. Add an in-wall module behind the socket (in the wall), but it won’t be manually controllable (you will always have to go through Gladys)
  2. Add a connected module on the socket like this.

Are you talking about controlling radiators via connected thermostatic heads?
In this case, it also depends on your budget, but they exist in Zigbee, WiFi, Bluetooth, Homekit, with third-party gateways, etc.
The cheapest ones are in Zigbee, I think (30€ per head).

I use Xiaomi sensors, which are really good and not expensive: Xiaomi Aqara Temperature and Humidity Sensor.
There are also SonOff sensors that I haven’t tested, but which are even cheaper.

Personally, I put cling film on one of the indoor sensors :sweat_smile:

For opening sensors, I know the Xiaomi Aqara and SonOff which are cheap and work very well.

Xiaomi Aqara makes good quality products that are not too expensive. SonOff seems to be even more affordable on Zigbee products, but I haven’t tested them.
I recommend the Zigbee protocol, as it is now officially supported (for a few days now) by Gladys and because it is often the cheapest equipment (compared to Zwave, for example).

The advantage is that no bridge is necessary, you just need a USB adapter that will serve as a Zigbee router. I recommend the first two recommended models: Electrolama zig-a-zig-ah! (zzh!) or Slaesh’s CC2652RB stick.

3

Thanks for your very detailed response, I will look at all that tomorrow, as well as your post and your feedback!

Indeed, what held me back from incorporating Gladys at the time was that either everything goes through Gladys or manually. Example with the lights, connected bulb, you can turn on/off etc… via Gladys, however if we turn off via Gladys or the app, we could not turn back on via the switch and that’s a huge drawback. Now there are solutions and that’s cool! The work is amazing!

On this Zigbee protocol, how does it work exactly? Does it work with Wi-Fi modules? Is state feedback possible with it?

4

No, it’s not Wi-Fi, it’s radio but this protocol operates on the 868MHz frequency (in Europe).
You just need a supported USB dongle.

Yes, there is state feedback; it’s the sensors that communicate a change in value.

For information, the well-known Philips Hue bulbs use this protocol across almost the entire range.

If you want a fairly comprehensive list of Zigbee-compatible hardware:

5

Thanks, and always with these damn lamps :wink:, with a switch under this protocol, if I turn it on via phone Gladys will recognize the lamp is on, but if I turn it off via the switch, will Gladys receive the information that the light is off?

And the question about the Raspberry, I would like an efficient, secure installation (no open circuit board in the closet for example haha), is the Raspberry sufficient for this? I remember that my Raspberry 3 could crash after a few days, with Gladys (I’m not saying it was Gladys’ fault) but it required regular restarts. Is there something more « safe »? Is it possible to install it on a NAS for example?

6

Yes, if the devices do not provide status feedback, Gladys will retrieve the info at regular intervals (poll)

Gladys is delivered as a Docker image.

Raspberry / NAS / PC… Anything that can run Docker.
The Raspberry remains a very good choice.

7

The raspberry pi remains a very good choice, the best being to replace the micro-SD card with an SSD for more stability. You can find SSDs for €17 now, so it’s affordable, and it allows for better Gladys performance and long-term stability.

There is a post on the forum where we talk about it :slight_smile:

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I’ll look into that, thanks for your responses :slight_smile: